Coil support for annealing furnaces



June 25, 1957 A STRAUB I COIL SUPPORT FOR ANNEALING FURNACES 2 w. t MA TE a my A m w s Filed Aug. 18, 1953 BY 2/0/01 WA rm; soasero/v a M me-Aw) United States Patent COIL SUPPORT FOR ANNEALING FURNACES Augustus A. Straub, Cleveland, Ohio ApplicationAugust18, 1953, Serial No. 375,016 10 Claims. ((31. 263 -547) Iltepr ent nt o la essensrl y enths anneal art andis more particularly concerned with a novel coil support means affording new and important results, and ad ntaai s nuse n a nea g nace i In accordance with theprior art and. the present commerc lrras i s d. lament t is cu t ma y in belltype annealing furnaces to provide a furnace base assembly which is relatively massive and expensive and subject to early failure under thermal shock stresses. These deficiencies have longvbeen recognizembut for lack of satisfactory solution, the problem of. base construction has not been solved up to the present time.

The present invention provides a solution to the aforesaicl problern-and affords important advantages in addition to overcoming the principal deficiencies of'these annealing furnace base assemblies of the prior art. Moreover, there is no offsetting disadvantage involved in; this invent on. to reduee itsxnet value as, a contribution to the ne ng an.

As indicated above, this inventionT is applicableto substantial advantage to coil support means in, addition to furnace base assemblies such as, convector space trays. Thus, as applied to annealing traysv such as those dis closed and claimed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,607,577 grantedAugust 19, 1952, trays of relatively light yet strong construction, which are not subject to failure under thermal shock stresses in use, maybe made. Furthermore, these trayspossess all the advantagesof my said patent and in addition are substantially no more expensjve to; Imakethan those said trays.

Those skilled in the art will gain a betterunderstanding of this tinvention from the following, detailed description thereof, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming apart of the specification in which:

Fig. 1 isa plan view of a conveetor space plate ofthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a convector space tray of this inyention in another form;

Big. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on. line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an annealing furnace base m v ns, nventi n. pa s being broken aw y for purposes of illustration; i

Fig. dis a transverse sectional view of the base asem y of F a Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the upper portion or tray element of the Fig, 5 base assembly; and,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View of a base assembly embodying this invention (in another form.

Gene al y he novel oil ppo t m ans (if this vention comprises a tray to support a coil of metal stock including a plurality of'elongated, longitudinally-curved spaced metal ribs disposed out edge with their inner ends defininga central transverseopening, an annular member secured to said ribs and holding portions of the ribs in fixed position relative to each other, a plurality of 2,797,078 Patented Junev 2 5, 1.95].

relatively, short, longitudinally-curved metal vanes disposed' on edge between said ribs and spaced therefrom with their upper and lower edge portions substantially in planes, defined by thetedge of said ribs and means. secured to the vanes and associated with the said' ribs for holding the vanes in position in the tray.

As applied to an annealing furnace base assembly, the apparatus of this invention includes a pedestal and a tray carried on the pedestal to support coils in spaced relation to the pedestalin order to promote gas circulation in the space above the b'ase assembly. In this case, the tray comprises a plurality of elongated; spaced longitudinally curved metal ribs which are disposed on edge with theirinner ends cooperating todefine a central transverse opening to receive a fan. An annular member secured to these ribs to hold portions of them in fiXedrelation to eachother and a plurality of relatively short longitudinally-curved'metal vanes are disposed on edge between the ribs and spaced; therefrom withtheir upper and lower edges substantially in planes defined between edges of the elongated ribs; In addition, means for holding the vanes imposition in the tray are provided being secured to the vanes and associated with the ribs.

More in detail, a preferred, embodiment of thisinvention in alconvector space tray is illustrated in Fig. l in which the tray 10 is madelup of a plurality of elongated metal ribs of involute form which are spaced uniformly apart around a common center With their inner ends directed: toward that center but spaced therefrom. and cooperating to. define a central opening throughthe tray. Aniuner hoop llfiistsecurede tothe inne-r ends. 1-2 of ribs 11; ends; 12 being suitably recessed in their mid-sections to receive hoop 13' which is suitably welded in place asshown; in Fig. 2. The outer. ends of. ribs 11 are likewise spaced apart substantially uniformly around the circumference of 'the tray and are recessed in their mid-sections for reeeiptof an outer hoop l5 whichv is suitably also welded; in place to hold these end portions 14; in fixed relation with respect toeach other. In additioman inter-v mediate hoop;ll6isp1'oyided and is disposed concentrically to hoopsl3; and 15 and isjsecured in place suitably by m ans o welds o i s- 1- d v n s ant a he central plane common to said hoops 13ancl15. A plurality of relatively short vanes 17, which are also ofinvolute form, are provided being disposed between ad-. jacent ribs, 1-1 and spaced substantially uniformly therefrom in every instance. These-vanesare substantially the same width and thickness but being shorter and having their.- outor ends adjacent to theuouter end, of ribs 11 do not extend inwardly of the tray beyond. intermediate hoop. l6 toflwhich they are Welded as indicated in Fig. 2.

The tray. 20 shown in Fig, 3 resembles generally the Fig. 1- tray'in that it is made up. of a plurality of elongated-ribs zll which are spaced apart and are of involute form with their innerends, 22: cooperating to define a central transverse opening through the tray, and; the i r outer periphery. concentticwith theinner peripheralportion of thetray. An. inner hoop 23. and an outer hoop 24 are provided: to secure the-inner'and outer ends. of ribs 211 in position with, respect to each other and these hoops, as in, the case of the Fig, 1 tray, are relatively narrow and are disposed in, the midi-section of the tray beings welded. inlplace. as shown in Fig. 4. A plurality of involute vanes: 26- are disposed in another tray with theinouter ends substantially adjacent to the outer ends of ribs 21 and in each instance thevane 26; is disposed between, an, adjacent pair of ribs 21, and, isuniforrnly. spaced therefrom VanesjZQ are, of substantially the sarne width; and thickness as ribs 21 but are shorter so that their ends terminate intermediate of the tray be; tween. t e nner and Oute heaps and 2 Vanes- 26 are secured to hoop 24 by means of Welds and their inner ends are supported in place by of substantially the same width as hoops 23 and 24 which extend between adjacent ribs 21 and are secured thereto intermediately of the upper and lower edge portions of the tray as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The connection of vanes 26 to bars 27 is also suitably accomplished by means of welds.

The base assembly illustrated in Figs. to 8, inclusive, comprises a floor plate 30 supported on beam members 31 and provided with a transverse opening to receive a motor drive shaft 32 of motor 33 which is disposed below the floor plate 30. A pedestal comprising a corrugated sheet metal strip disposed on edge in generally spiral shape as viewed in Fig. 5 and of vermiculite composition embedding the plate is disposed on top of floor plate 30. This pedestal also has a central opening but it is of substantially reduced diameter compared to the opening in the floor plate and the upper end of shaft 32 which extends above the pedestal has keyed to it a centrifugal fan 38 which serves to circulate air or gas within the annealing shell 39 of the assembly to accomplish the heat transfer necessary in annealing operations. Superimposed upon the pedestal base assembly is a coil support means in the form of a tray having a relatively light base plate 41 which rests upon the upper side of the pedestal. A plurality of elongated shaped metal ribs 42 of generally involute form are secured to plate 41 and extend upwardly therefrom with their upper edges defining a plane substantially paralleling the upper surface of plate 41. Ribs 42 in practice preferably are welded to plate 41 at their inner ends only so that they may be moved as a unit with the plate. The outer ends of ribs 42 are disposed adjacent to the outer periphery of plate 41 and are movable relative thereto for relative thermal expansion and contraction and the inner ends of these ribs terminate just inside the inner peripheral portion of this plate. Thus, these inner ends of the ribs cooperate to define a central transverse opening through the rib portion of the tray. A plurality of battle plates 45 are disposed between adjacent ribs near the outer ends of the ribs for the purpose of directing air traveling outwardly from fan 38 in an upward direction for flow against shell 39. These bafile plates also tie the outer ends of the ribs each to the other thus holding these rib portions in predetermined spaced relation to each other. Each of these bafiie plates has a portion which bears against the top surface of plate 41 and has edge portions bearing against opposing sides of adjacent ribs. These plates 45 are secured in position by welding tabs 50 at the side portions of plate 45 to the ribs 42.

Passageways 55 for air flow radially outwardly from the fan 38 are restricted at their inner ends by means provided for the purpose of assuring maximum air or gas flow through these passageways from the fan. The restriction means, as shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, and as best seen in Fig. 7, comprises a plurality of relatively short, longitudinally-curved ribs and Weldments 58 filling the spaces between these ribs 57 and adjacent ribs 42. Ribs 57 are of approximately the same thickness as ribs 42 but are of substantially less width so that they do not extend much below the mid-section of the rib portion of the tray. Additionally, ribs 57 have inwardly directed tapering end portions which project into the opening in the tray defined by the inner ends of ribs 42. Thus, these inner endsvof ribs 57 partially cover the peripheral portions of fan 38 as indicated in Figs. 5 and 8. The upper edge portions of ribs 57 as well as. the adjacent weld fills 58 are in substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper edges of ribs 42 in order that the top of the rib portion of the tray is substantially flat to present a firm even base uponwhich to place a stack of coil stock to be annealed. l I As shown in Fig. 7, in some installations it is desirable means of bars 27 7 to place a top plate 60 on the upper side of the rib portion of the tray in which case plate 60 is provided with a central transverse opening to prevent gas or air to flow downwardly into the chamber and the outer periphery of tray 60 is disposed substantially above the corresponding portion of plate 41. Where it is desired, plate 60 may be secured as by welds to the tray, but in accordance with the preferred practice of this invention, I merely place it on the tray prior to the loading of the base with coil stock.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8, the base pedestal and auxiliary structure are suitably essentially as described above, but the tray structure of the base is substantially difierent from that of Fig. 5. In this case, the tray, in addition to having a base plate 70 corresponding in shape and form to plate 41 and elongated spaced ribs 71 corresponding to ribs 42 welded to base 70, has a plurality of relatively short, curved metal ribs 73 disposed between adjacent ribs 71 and near their outer ends. The inner ends of ribs 73 are secured to bars 74 by welds and these bars in turn are welded to opposing sides of adjacent ribs 71. This base tray construction accordingly resembles the trays of Figs. 1 and 3 described above and possesses novel advantages in common therewith.

Baffle plates 75 corresponding in function, structure and relation to adjoining elements including base 70, ribs 71 after the manner of baffle plate 45 are provided as shown in Fig. 8 and are secured in place by means of tabs 77 welded to plates 75.

' The inner ends of the passageways 80 defined by ribs 71 are partially closed by means of short rib sections 81 and weld fills 82 are described in reference to Fig. 5. Thus, ribs 81 like ribs 57 are of substantially reduced width compared to ribs 71 and the inner ends of ribs 81 extend well into the transverse opening defined by ribs 71.

It will be appreciated in view of the foregoing description that by virtue of this invention a new structure having new features and advantages is provided. Thus, through the novel concept of securing the inner ends of the ribs permanently to plate 41 and leaving the outer ends of the ribs free of the plate but tieing them to each other by baffle plates 45, a well anchored but floating, flexible and strong rib assembly is provided. This base assembly consequently is able to withstand much harder and longer service than heretofore conventional devices of this type and it is no more expensive to make than they are. A level platform'is provided by this invention to receive either the edge of a coil or a light plate on which a coil may be placed for annealing. The longitudinally-curved ribs are not only free to elongate independently of plate 41 but are also free to seek the level of the refractory base for firm support of a coil stock. 'Also, plate 41 is purposely relatively light so that any tendency toward warping will not be strong enough to effect the horizontal alignment of the ribs.

Having thus described the present invention so that those skilled in the art will be able to gain a better understanding and practice the same, I state that What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what'is claimed. What is claimed is:

1. Coil support means for an annealing furnace comprising a base assembly including a pedestal and a tray carried on the pedestal to support coils in spaced relation to said pedestal and to promote gas circulation above the base assembly, said tray comprising a plurality of elongated, spaced longitudinally-curved metal ribs dis posed on edge with their inner ends defining a central transverse opening to receive a fan, a metal plate substantially coextensive radially with said tray and secured only to the inner end portions of said ribs and holding said portions of the ribs in fixed relation to each other and having a central opening in register with said transverse opening, and a plurality of longitudinally-curved metal vanes substantially shorter than said ribs welded to said. plate and disposed on edge between said elongated ribs and spaced therefrom with their upper and lower edge portions substantially in planes defined by the edges of the elongated ribs.

2. Coil support means for an annealing furnace comprising a. base, assembly including a pedestaland a tray carried on the pedestal to support coils in spaced relation to said pedestal and to promote gas circulation above the base assembly, saidtray comprising, a plurality of elongated, spaced longitudinally-curved: metal ribs disposed on edge with their inner. endsdefininga central transverse opening to. receive a. fan,. an annular member secured to said ribs and holding portions. of. the'ribsin fixed. relation to each: other, aplurality of. longitudinally-curved. metal vanes substantially shorter than said ribs disposed on edge between said elongated ribs and spaced therefrom with their upper and lower edge portions substantially in planes defined by the edges of the elongated ribs and with their inner ends located in the intermediate portion of the tray, and a plurality of short, narrow bars extending between and connected to opposed sides of pairs of elongated ribs and secured to inner ends of the vanes for holding said vanes in position in the tray.

3. Coil support means for an annealing furnace comprising a base assembly including a pedestal and a tray carried on the pedestal to support coils in spaced relation to said pedestal and to promote gas circulation above the base assembly, said tray comprising a plurality of elongated, spaced longitudinally-curved metal ribs disposed on edge with their inner ends defining a central transverse opening to receive a fan, an annular member secured to the inner ends of said ribs and holding portions of the ribs in fixed relation to each other, a plurality of longitudinally-curved metal vanes substantially shorter than said ribs disposed on edge between said elongated ribs and spaced therefrom with their upper and lower edge portions substantially in planes defined by the edges of the elongated ribs and with their inner ends located in the intermediate portion of the tray, a relatively narrow metal ring secured to inner ends of the elongated ribs and welded to the vanes between the upper and lower edges of said elongated ribs for holding said vanes in position in the tray, and an intermediate ring secured to the ribs and vanes radially outward of said narrow metal rlng.

4. Coil support means for an annealing furnace comprising a base assembly including a pedestal and a tray carried on the pedestal to support coils in spaced relation to said pedestal and to promote gas circulation above the base assembly, said tray comprising a plurality of elongated, spaced longitudinally-curved metal ribs disposed on edge with their inner ends defining a central transverse opening to receive a fan, a metal plate substantially coextensive radially with said tray and secured only to the inner end portions of said ribs and holding said portions of the ribs in fixed relation to each other and having a central opening in register with said transverse opening, a plurality of longitudinally-curved metal vanes substantially shorter than said ribs disposed on edge between said elongated ribs and spaced therefrom with their upper and lower edge portions substantially in planes defined by the edges of the elongated ribs and a relatively narrow metal ring secured to the elongated ribs and welded to inner ends of the vanes between the upper and lower edges and between the inner and outer ends of said elongated ribs for holding said vanes in position in the tray. 1

5. An annealing furnace base assembly comprising a plurality of on edge, elongated, longitudinally-curved, spaced, metal ribs cooperating to define passageways through the assembly and having inner ends together defining ports at the inner ends of said passageways and a central transverse opening of greater height than a fan and. adapted to receive a fan in its lower portion, and a plurality of ribs substantially shorter in length and narof said ports and passageways in the upper portion. of the base assembly.

6. An annealing furnace base assembly comprising a.

plurality of; on edge, elongated, longitudinally-curved, spaced, metal ribs cooperating to define passageways through the. assembly and having inner ends together defining ports at the inner ends of said passageways and a central transverse opening of greater height than a fan and adapted to receive a fan in its lower portion, and a plurality of ribs substantially shorter in length and narrower in vertical height than said. ribs and disposed between the elongated ribs and cooperating therewith to close the ports and the inner ends of said passageways in the upper portion of the base assembly, said narrow ribs having their upper edges substantially flush with the upper edges of the adjacent elongated ribs and having the upper portions of their inner ends extending into said transverse opening.

7. An annealing furnace base assembly comprising a plurality of on edge, elongated, longitudinally-curved, spaced, metal ribs cooperating to define passageways through the assembly and having inner ends together defining ports at the inner ends of said passageways and a central transverse opening of greater height than a fan and adapted to receive a fan in its lower portion, a plurality of ribs substantially shorter in length and narrower in vertical height than said elongated ribs and disposed between the upper portion of the elongated ribs and cooperating therewith to close the upper inner ends of said ports and passageways in the upper portion of the base assembly, and baffie means disposed between the elongated ribs adjacent to their outer ends to direct gas currents generally upwardly in their fiow through the outer periphery of the base assembly.

8. An annealing furnace base assembly comprising a plurality of on edge, elongated, longitudinally-curved, spaced, metal ribs cooperating to define passageways through the assembly and having inner ends together defining ports at the inner ends of said passageways and a central transverse opening of greater height than a fan and adapted to receive a fan in its lower portion, a plurality of ribs substantially shorter in length and narrower in vertical height than said elongated ribs and disposed between the upper portions of the elongated ribs and cooperating therewith to close the upper inner ends of said ports and passageways in the upper portion of the base assembly, a plurality of relatively short, longitudinallycurved metal vanes disposed on edge between said elongated ribs and spaced therefrom with their upper and lower edge portions substantially in planes defined by the edges of the elongated ribs, the inner ends of said short vanes being located radially outward of the inner ends of said elongated ribs, and means secured to the inner ends of said vanes and associated with the elongated ribs for holding said vanes in position in the assembly.

9. A Convector space tray to support a coil of metal stock during annealing comprising a plurality of elongated, longitudinally-curved, spaced metal ribs disposed on edge with their inner ends defining a central transverse opening, an annular member secured to said ribs and holding portions of the ribs in fixed position relative to each other, a plurality of longitudinally-curved metal vanes substantially shorter than said ribs disposed on edge between said ribs and spaced therefrom with their upper and verse opening, a plurality of elongated, longitudinally-.

curved metal ribs substantially coextensive radiallywith said plate disposed on edge on top of the plate and spaced apart to define a plurality of curved passageways extending generally radially of the plate, the inner ends of said ribs terminating adjacent to the inner periphery of the plate and together defining a plurality of ports at the inner ends of the passageways and a central transverse opening to receive a fan, a plurality of vanes substantially shorter than said ribs, disposed between the elongated ribs and cooperating therewith to close the upper parts of the ports at the inner ends of said passageways in the upper portion of the base assembly, the said elongated 15 ribs being welded to the base plate adjacent to their inner ends and having their intermediate portions and their outer end'portions in floating relation to said plate for expansion and contraction and motion With. respect to 5 the said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,028 Harsch Aug. 1, 1939 2,414,130 1 Wilson Jan. 14, 1947 2,489,012 Dailey Nov. 22, 1949 2,580,283 Cone Dec. 25, 1951 2,607,577 Straub Aug. 19, 1952 2,671,656 Winder Mar. 9, 1954 

